Liquid applicator for floor mats and the like



P 25, 1957 R. A. MOHN ETAL 3,343,517

LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR FLOOR MATS AND THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l s U E INVENTOR. REUBEN/1J4 OHN ANGELO AAA/ToA/EL 5 wfii ATTO/PNE Y5 P 1957 R. A. MOHN ETAL 3,343,517

LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR FLOOR MATS AND THE LIKE 3Yz% GELO/ ANTZZELZ/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1967 R. A. MOHN ETAL LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR FLOOR MATS AND THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet L INVENTOR.

REL/BEA/AMOHN AN GELO A.AN TONELL/ wym uny fi TORNEYQ United States Patent 3,343,517 LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR FLOOR MATS AND THE LIKE Reuben A. Mohn and Angelo A. Antonelli, Fargo,

N. Dak., assignors to American Uniform Company,

Cleveland, Tenn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,836 16 Claims. (Cl. 118-2) This invention relates generally to liquid applicators, and more particularly, to such devices for applying liquid treatment to sheet-like textile fabrications such as floor mats and the like.

. Many public buildings, oifice buildings and the like, utilize mats, commonly known as walk-off mats, in the entrances, foyers or lobbies thereof during inclement weather, so that persons may wipe excess moisture from the bottoms of their footwear when entering, thus preventing the interior floors from becoming unduly soiled. Usually, the bottom surfaces of these mats are coated with rubber or the like to prevent the same from slipping on smooth floors, and on many of these mats the tufted or napped top surfaces are treated with moisture absorbent material which enables the mat to more effectively draw moisture h'om the footwear coming into contact therewith and to hold more mositure than untreated mats.

The moisture absorbent material is usually applied to the mats in liquid form, the water absorbing agent being dissolved in or carried by a volatile liquid carrier which quickly evaporates from the nap of the mat, leaving the water absorbing agent distributed within the mat and adhering thereto.

In view of the fact that many volatile liquids are injurious to rubber compounds, it is highly important that, during treatment of a mat, the treating liquid is prevented from coming into contact with the rubber coating on the bottom surface of the mat. Accordingly, an important object of this invention is the provision of a liquid applicator which will effectively dispense liquid to the napped top portion only of a mat while isolating the rubber-coated bottom surface thereof from the treating liquid.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a liquid applicator including a liquid dispensing head having an elongated liquid discharge slot, and means for controlling fiow of liquid in the dispensing head to provide uniform discharge of the liquid from one side edge of a mat being treated to the other side edge thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of liquid supply means and control means for the liquid supply means whereby to control the flow of treatment liquid to the dispenser head in accordance with the size of mat being treated by the liquid.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of novel conveyor means for a mat to be treated, including guide means directing a treated mat to the operator for further disposal.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a liquid applicator as set forth, which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce, which is highly eflicient in operation, and which is rugged in construction and durable in use.

The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent Patented Sept. 26, 1967 from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a mat treating machine produced in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation as seen from the light of FIG. 1, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 3, on a further enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in top plan, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 6 is a view partly diagrammatic and partly in front elevation, with some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in end elevation as seen from the left of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the liquid dispensing head of this invention, a portion being broken away and a portion being shown in section.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, a table, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 1, is shown as comprising a horizontally disposed rectangular frame 2 supported by front and rear legs 3 and 4 respectively, a horizontal top 5 overlying the frame 2 and having a metallic cover plate 6 adhered to the 'top surface thereof. As shown particularly in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, the rear edges of the top 5 and cover plate 6 are forwardly spaced from the rear legs 4, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The table 1 further includes a supporting shelf 7 that is supported in underlying spaced relationship to the top 5, by the rear legs 4 and a generally U-shaped hanger frame comprising a pair of legs 8 depending from opposite end portions of the frame 2, and a cross member 9 suitably connected at its opposite ends to the lower ends of the legs 8.

The frame 2 includes a pair of transverse frame members 10 and 11 preferably made from structural angle iron or the like, the former of which is disposed at the upper ends of the rear legs 4, and the latter of which underlies the rear edge of the table top 5, see FIGS. 3

and 7. A plurality of generally U-shaped support members 12 are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the transverse frame members 10 and 11 in spaced apart relationship transversely of the table 1, and support a liquid dispensing head, indicated in its entirety by the reference character 13. The dispensing head 13 extends transversely of the table 1 between the transverse frame members 10 and 11, and comprises upper and lower manifolds 14 and 15 respectively, the latter resting upon the supporting members 12, the upper manifold 14 overlying the lower manifold 15 and separated therefrom by a plurality of elastic sealing rings 16 disposed in spaced relationship longitudinally of the manifolds 14 and 15. The upper manifold 14 is provided with forwardly and rearwardly projecting ears or lugs 17 through which extend anchoring screws or the like 18, the lower end portions of the.

upper and lower manifold sections 14 and 15 together and to the support members 12.

It will be noted that the top wall 20 of the upper manifold 14 is disposed rearwardly of the rear edge of the table top 5, and that the rear edge portion of the metallic cover plate 6 overlaps and rests upon a portion of the top wall 20, see particularly FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. Rearwardly of the rear edge of the cover plate 6, the top wall 20 of the upper manifold 14 is formed to provide a discharge slot 21 that extends longitudinally for substantially the entire length of the upper manifold 14, the upper manifold 14 extending for substantially the entire width of the table 1 as does the lower manifold 15. The bottom wall 22 of the upper manifold 14 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 23 that are aligned With cooperating openings 24 in the top wall 25 of the lower manifold 15, the sealing rings 16 providing passage means between each opening 23 and its aligned opening 24.

Means for supplying mat-treating liquid to the dispensing head 13 comprises a conventional pump 26 that is driven by a motor 27 through the medium of a drive belt 28, the pump and motor being mounted on the shelf 7. The pump 26 draws liquid from a reservoir 29 mounted on the shelf 7 through a conduit 30 in which is interposed a check valve 31. A delivery conduit 32 extends from the outlet of the pump 26 and extends to a T-fitting 33. A conduit 34 extends from the T-fitting 33 to another T-fitting 35, and has interposed therein a check valve 36. A pair of conduits 37 extend from the T-fitting 35 each to a different one of a pair of solenoid-operated valves 38 and 39. Conduits 40 and 41 extend from respective ones of the valves 38 and 39 to a respective metering valve 42 and 43. Conduits 44 and 45 extend from the metering valves 42 and 43 respectively to a pair of connected T-fittings 46 and 47, a pair of delivery conduits 48 and 49 extending from the T-fitting 47 each to an opposite end of the lower manifold for delivery of liquid thereto. A conventional thermometer gauge 50 is suitably connected to the reservoir 29 by the usual conduit, designated at 51, for indicating to the user the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir 29. As shown in FIG. 1, the thermometer gauge 50 is suitably mounted above the machine at the rear portion thereof. Preferably,

' a pressure gauge 52 is connected in communication with the conduit 32, the pressure gauge 52 being suitably mounted adjacent the thermometer gauge 50, as shown in FIG. 1. A suitable heating device, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6, and indicated by the reference character 53 is interposed in a conduit 54 that leads from the T-fitting 33 to the reservoir 29. The heating device 53 is controlled by conventional and well known means including a thermostat element in the reservoir 29, the thermostat element being shown by dotted lines and indicated by the reference numeral 53a. Preferably, liquid is caused to circulate between the reservoir 29 and heating device 53 by means of the pump 26, prior to operation of the machine, for a time sufiicient to raise the temperature of the liquid in the reservoir 29 to a desired operating temperature. For the purpose of the present example, this operating temperature is in the neighborhood of 120 F. which, when indicated on the thermometer gauge 50, informs the operator that the machine is ready for use. A pressure control valve 54a is interposed in the conduit 54 between the heating device 53 and the T- fitting 33, see FIG. 6, the line pressure being indicated on the pressure gauge 52. An elongated drip pan 55 is mounted on the support members 12 in underlying relationship to the'dispensing head 13 and is provided with a drain conduit 56 for returning overflow liquid to the reservoir 29.

With the above-described liquid supply system, liquid is delivered to both ends of the lower manifold 15 through one or the other of the solenoid operated valves 38 and 39 and their respective metering valves 42 and 43. The

solenoid operated control valves 38 and 39 are both normally closed and, when the metering valves 42 and 43 are properly adjusted, opening of the valve 38 will cause liquid to flow to the lower manifold 15 at a predetermined relatively low rate of flow. When the valve 38 is closed and the valve 39 open, the rate of flow of liquid to the lower manifold 15 will be greater, the valve 39 being set to deliver liquid at a greater volume than the valve 38. Operation of the control valves 38 and 39 is controlled by a normally open single throw switch 57 and a double throw switch 58 having normally closed contacts in a circuit in series with the switch 57 and normally open contacts in a circuit in parallel with the switch 57. As shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, it will be seen that the switches 57 and 58 are mounted in the frame 2 toward opposite ends of the table and are operated by actuator members 59 normally disposed in the path of travel of a mat to be treated as it moves rearwardly over the cover plate 6. Push rods, 60 connect the actuator members 59 with their respective switches 57 and 58. As shown in FIG. 6, the switches 57 and 58 are connected by a lead 61, the switch 58 being connected to a power lead 62, the switch 57 being connected to the solenoid of control valve 38 by a lead 63, and one of the normally open contacts of the switch 58 being connected to the solenoid of control valve 39 by a lead 64. The parallel circuits to the solenoids of the control valves 38 and 39 are completed by a lead 65 extending between said solenoids and connected to a power lead 66, the power leads 62 and 66 being connected to a source of electrical potential, not shown.

When it is desired to apply treatment liquid to a floor mat or the like, the mat is placed tufted side down on the cover plate 6 of the table 1 and preferably at the right hand end of the table, as viewed in FIG. 1. Assuming that the mat is of a given width whereby it engages one but not both of the switch actuators 59, only the switch 57 will be closed thereby to cause opening of the control valve 38. With its cooperating metering valve 42 properly adjusted, treatment liquid will be delivered to the lower manifold 15 only through the control valve 38 and only at a rate sufiicient to compensate for withdrawal of treatment liquid through the discharge slot 21. In this connection, it will be noted with reference to FIG. 4.

that, as the mat travels rearwardly across the width of the discharge slot 21, the free ends of the fibers X of the mat partially enter the slot 21 and absorb treatment liquid therefrom. The rubber-coated backing of the mat is indicated by the reference character Y. The mats are moved across the discharge slot 21 at a predetermined uniform rate of speed, as will hereinafter be described, so that the rate of absorption of liquid from the dispensing head 13 is uniform from the leading edge of the mat to the trailing edge thereof. By means of the metering valve 42, the rate of flow of the treatment liquid from the reservoir 29 to the dispensing head 13 can be sutficiently accurately controlled so that during the interval that the control valve 38 is open, very little, if any, liquid will be discharged outwardly of that portion of the discharge slot 21 that is not covered by the mat being treated. Obviously, when a mat of sufiicient width to engage both actuators 59 is passed thereover, both switches 57 and 58 will be operated to cause closing of the control valve 38 and opening of the control valve 39, and a correspondingly greater rate of flow of liquid to the dispensing head 13 is attained. By introducing the treatment liquid to opposite ends of the lower manifold 15 simultaneously, and with the use of a plurality of connecting openings 23 and 24 between the lower manifold 15 and upper manifold 14, the flow of treatment liquid to the upper manifold 14 is uniform throughout the length thereof. Further, this flow is accomplished with a minimum of turbulence due in part to the slow rate of flow of liquid and the porting arrangement between the upper and lower manifolds 14 and 15 respectively.

For the purpose of moving inverted mats on the table tops in a rearward direction toward the liquid dispensing head 13, and at a uniform predetermined speed, we provide conveyor mechanism including a pair of flout and rear conveyor rolls 67 and 68 respectively and a plurality of endless flexible conveyor belts 69 entrained over the rolls 67 and 68 in axially spaced relationship. The rolls 67 and 68 are disposed on parallel horizontal axes extending transversely of the table 1, the rear roll 68 normally overlying the discharge slot 21 of the liquid dispenser 13 and parallel thereto, the front conveyor roll 67 overlying the cover plate 6 of the table top 5 forwardly of the rear edge thereof. The conveyor rolls 67 and 68 are supported from the frame 2 by frame structure including a stationary frame 70 and a movable frame 71. The stationary frame 70 comprises a pair of vertically disposed frame members 72 extending upwardly from opposite ends of the transverse frame member and welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto, and a horizontally disposed cross frame member 73 welded or otherwise rigidly secured at its opposite ends to the upper ends of the vertical frame members 72, the members 72 and 73 being preferably made from structural angle iron or the like. The movable frame 71 comprises a pair of generally L-shaped end frame members 74 and horizontally disposed parallel cross members 75 and 76. The end frame members 74 comprise generally vertical arms 77 that are joined at their upper ends by the opposite ends of the cross member 75, and forwardly projecting generally horizontal arms 78 that are rigidly secured intermediate their ends to the opposite ends of the cross member 76. The front conveyor roll 67 is suitably journalled at its opposite ends in bearings 79 mounted on the forward end portions of the arms 78, the rear conveyor roll 68 being suitably journalled at its opposite ends in bearings 86 that are rigidly mounted on the generally vertical arms 77. The movable frame 71 is supported from the stationary frame 70 by means of a plurality of spaced bars 81 that extend rearwardly from the cross member 75 and which, at their rear ends, are rigidly secured to aligned hinges 82 that are anchored to the cross frame member 73, whereby the movable frame 71 may swing in directions to move the conveyor rolls 67 and 68 generally toward and away from the table top 5 and discharge slot 21 respectively. The location of the aligned hinges 82 with respect to the movable frame 71 causes the movable frame 71 and parts carried thereby to be gravity biased in a downward direction toward the table and dispensing head. Preferably, the arms 78 are provided with lock nut-equipped stop screws 83 that engage the cover plate 6 of the table top to limit downward movement of the movable frame 71 and parts carried thereby. Preferably, and as shown, the rear conveyor roll 68 is formed to provide a plurality of axially spaced circumferential channels 84, each of which receives a different one of the endless conveyor belts 69. Each channel 84 has a radial depth equal to the thickness of its respective conveyor belt 69, whereby that portion of the rear conveyor roll 68 and belts 69 overlying the discharge slot 21 presents a uniform surface to an underlying mat for the entire length of the rear conveyor roll 68.

The motor 27 drives a conventional transmission mechanism not shown but contained within a housing 84a, said transmission mechanism including an output shaft 85 on which is mounted a sprocket wheel 86 over which is entrained an endless link chain 87 that is also entrained over a second sprocket wheel 88 that is mounted on and keyed or rigidly secured to a shaft 89 that extends axially outwardly from the adjacent end of the rear conveyor roll 68. The chain 87 runs over an idler sprocket 90 that is journalled to one end of an arm or bracket 91, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the frame 2 of the table 1. A coil tension spring 92 is connected at one end to the arm or bracket 91 and at its other endv to the frame 2, and yieldingly urges the idler sprocket 90 in a direction to maintain the chain 87 in a substantially (ill taut condition in different positions of the rear conveyor roll relative to the liquid dispensing head 13. Preferably, the sprocket wheels 86 and 88, and chain 87 are covered by a suitable guard or shroud 93. During operation of the machine, the transmission output shaft rotates in a counterclockwise direction with respect to FIG. 2, causing the front and rear conveyor rolls 67 and 68 to rotate in the same direction, whereby the lower or delivery flights A of the belts 69 move rearwardly of the table 1 toward the liquid dispensing head 13, the upper or return giIgts3B moving in the opposite or forward direction, see

Rearwardly spaced from the rear conveyor roll 68, and substantially concentric therewith, are laterally spaced guide rods or fingers 94 having lower end portions 95 that are welded or otherwise secured to the rear cross member 18, and substantially vertically disposed upper end portions 96 that are likewise welded or rigidly secured to the cross member 73. Other mat guiding means includes a plurality of generally horizontally disposed guide fingers 97 that are bent into generally U-shape. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the open ends of the U- shaped fingers 97 are welded or otherwise secured to the cross member 76 between adjacent ones of the return flights B of the conveyor belt 69, the looped or closed ends of the fingers 97 projecting forwardly beyond and above the front conveyor roll 67.

For the purpose of moving the movable frame 71 upwardly about the axisof the aligned hinges 82 to increase the spacing between the top of the table and the front roller 67 and between the liquid dispensing head 13 and rear conveyor roll 68, we provide a lifting cam 98 that is journalled at one side of the frame 2 as indicated at 99, and which engages a cam follower lug 100 that projects laterally outwardly from the adjacent movable frame arm 78, see particularly FIGS. 5 and 7. The cam 98 is provided with a radially outwardly projecting operating handle 101 that is adapted to rest on a stop pin or the like 102 which projects laterally outwardly from the adjacent generally vertical arm 77 of the movable frame 71, when the conveyor mechanism is in its lowered operative position. The cam 98 is provided with a substantially fiat dwell portion 103 that engages the cam follower 100 when the movable frame 71 is raised to a desired maximum, to hold the movable frame 71 against accidental downward movement.

When it is desired to utilize the above-described machine to treat a floor mat for the purpose above set forth, the motor 27 is connected to a source of electrical potential whereby to be energized to initiate operation of the pump 26 and conveyor belts 69. After the liquid has been heated to the desired temperature, a floor mat to be treated is placed upon the top of the table in an inverted condition and positioned adjacent one side of the table, such as the right hand side thereof. The inverted mat is then slidably moved rearwardly until the leading edge of the mat is engaged by the rearwardly moving delivery flights A of the conveyor belts 69 which feed the floor mat rearwardly at a predetermined uniform speed. Assuming that the mat is of a width insufiicient to allow the same to engage both of the switch actuators 59, but only one thereof, rearward movement of the mat will cause the same to engage the actuator 59 associated with the switch 57 to close the same. This action will energize the solenoid of the control valve 38 to open the same, permitting delivery of liquid to the liquid dispensing head 13. Assuming that both of the manifolds 14 and 15 are full of treatment liquid, opening of the valve 38 will cause the treatment liquid to flow outwardly through the discharge slot 21 and into the nap X of the mat as the mat is moved thereover by the conveyor belts 69. The setting of the metering valve 42 and the speed of the conveyor belts 69 are such that the nap absorbs the treatment liquid at a rate equal to the rate of flow thereof into the dispensing head 13. Further, the rate of travel of the mat and the rate of flow of liquid to the dispensing head are such that the treatment liquid is absorbed by the nap X to a predetermined depth therein less than the total thickness of the nap. Thus, there is little, if any, overflow of liquid through that portion of the discharge slot 21 not covered by the mat, and the rubber backing Y of the mat being uppermost, none of the treatment liquid touches the same. It will be noted that, as the mat moves over the discharge slot 21, downward pressure is exerted thereon by the rear conveyor roll 68 and conveyor belts 69, this pressure being uniform over the entire width of the mat due to the uniform pressure surface obtained by entraining the conveyor belts 69 in the channels 84 of the rear conveyor roll 68.

As the mat progresses rearwardly beyond the discharge slot 21, the leading edge of the mat engages the arcuate guide rods 94 and follows the curvature of the rear conveyor roll 68 upwardly and forwardly to subsequently be supported on the return flights B of the conveyor belts 69, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3. Rearward movement of the trailing edge of the mat beyond the actuator 59 will permit opening of the switch 57 and consequent closing of the valve 38 to stop further flow of treatment liquid to the dispensing head 13. During forward return movement of the mat on the return flights B, the mat is i engaged by the guide fingers 97 which support the mat in upwardly spaced relation to the top of the table 1, so that the mat may be picked up by the operator for further disposal. Should there be any tendency for the rubber backing Y of the mat to adhere to the conveyor belts 69, the guide fingers 97 perform the additional function of disengaging the mat from the conveyor belts, and thus prevent a repetition of the mat treating operation on a given mat.

For the purpose of the present example, the machine of this invention is shown as having a pair of control valves each with a cooperating metering valve and a cooperating switch. This arrangement is highly satisfactory for the treatment of a plurality of relatively narrow mats of substantially the same width. However, it will be ap preciated that, by adding other solenoid operated control valves and cooperating metering valves, with cooperating switches and actuators spaced between the present actuators 59, the flow of treatment liquid to the dispensing head 13 may be accurately controlled for mats of any desired width within the capacity of the machine.

While we have shown and described a commercial embodiment of our liquid applicator, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a liquid applicator for floor mats and the like:

(a) a generally horizontally disposed table having front and rear edges;

(b) an elongated hollow dispensing head disposed adjacent the rear edge of the table and extending longitudinally of said rear edge;

(c) said dispensing head defining, an elongated liquid receiving chamber, an elongated liquid delivery chamher, and passage means establishing communication between said receiving and delivery chambers;

(d) said dispensing head including a generally horizontally disposed top wall substantially level with the top of the table and having a slot therethrough to said delivery chamber for discharge of said liquid upwardly from said delivery chamber, said slot ex- 7 tending longitudinally for the greater part of the length of said dispensing head;

(e) conveyor means overlying said table and engaging a mat placed on the table for delivery of said mat toward and over said dispensing head;

(f) means including a pump for supplying liquid to said receiving chamber;

(g) means for automatically controlling the rate of flow of said liquid to said receiving chamber in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the matcovered portion of said slot when a mat is conveyed thereover;

(h) said conveyor means corprising an endless belt means entrained on parallel, generally horizontally arranged front and rear rolls with the rear roll disposed in overlying spaced parallel relation to the dispensing slot;

(i) said conveyor means further being mounted on a hinged support biased towards said slot whereby to exert a feed force on the mats to be coated and to maintain said mats associated with the dispensing slot; and

(j) guide means generally concentric with said rear roll and associated therewith whereby to guide coated mats from the dispenser, about the periphery of the belt portion trained about said rear roll and, in a reverse direction with respect to mat infeed, onto the upper flight of said belt.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means establishing communication between said receiving and delivery chambers comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced passages.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in further combination with means to impart movement to the hinged support in a direction away from said table and dispenser head.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the means to impart movement comprise an operatively associated lifting cam and cam follower.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said belt means comprise a plurality of endless belt elements, parallel to and spaced from one another.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said rear roll includes a plurality of axially spaced circumferential channels adapted to accommodate said belt elements to be entrained therein.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the radial depths of each said channel is substantially equal to the radial thickness of the belt element associated therewith.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said concentric guide means comprise a plurality of arcuate spaced guide bars.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein means to strip the coated mats are located at the front portion of the con: veyor means and arranged in cooperative association with said upper flight.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the stripping means comprise elements disposed between said belt elements and extending angularly upwardly and forwardly relative to said belt elements.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said means controlling rate of flow include a plurality of switches associated with the conveyor and disposed so as to be selectively responsive to the transverse extent of a mat being conveyed, and, in accordance with such response, adapted to actuate one of a plurality of pairs of valve means.

12. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said concentric guide means comprise a plurality of arcuate spaced guide bars.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein means to strip the coated mats are located at the front portion of the conveyor means and aranged in cooperative association with said upper flight.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the shipping means comprise elements disposed between said belt elements and extending angularly upwardly and forwardly relative to said belt elements.

15. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means controlling rate of flow include a plurality of switches associated with the conveyor and disposed so as to be selectively responsive to the transverse extent of a mat being conveyed, and, in accordance with such response, adapted to actuate one of a plurality of pairs of valve means.

16. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein means to strip the coated mats are located at the front portion of the conveyor means and arranged in cooperative association With said upper flight.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Van Avermaete 118410 Snyder 118407 Straford 118-400 X Johnson 11s 411 l0 Diescher 118410 Schur 118-8 Schur ..i 118411 X Colgan 118410 Jester 239549 X Boone 118410 X FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1959 Great Britain.

Germany.

MORRIS KAPLAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR FLOOR MATS AND THE LIKE: (A) A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TABLE HAVING FRONT AND REAR EDGES; (B) AN ELONGATED HOLLOW DISPENSING HEAD DISPOSED ADJACENT THE REAR EDGE OF THE TABLE AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID REAR EDGE; (C) SAID DISPENSING HEAD DEFINING, AN ELONGATED LIQUID RECEIVING CHAMBER, AN ELONGATED LIQUID DELIVER CHAMBER, AND PASSAGE MEANS ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID RECEIVING AND DELIVERY CHAMBERS; (D) SAID DISPENSING HEAD INCLUDING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TOP WALL SUBSTANTIALLY LEVEL WITH THE TOP OF THE TABLE AND HAVING SLOT THERETHROUGH TO SAID DELIVERY CHAMBER FOR DISCHARGE OF SAID LIQUID UPWARDLY FROM SAID DELIVERY CHAMBER, SAID SLOT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FOR THE GREATER PART OF THE LENGTH OF SAID DISPENSING HEAD; (E) CONVEYOR MEANS OVERLYING SID TABLE AND ENGAGING A MAT PLACED ON THE TABLE FOR DELIVERY OF SAID MAT TOWARD AND OVER SAID DISPENSING HEAD; (F) MEANS INCLUDING A PUMP FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID TO SAID RECEIVING CHAMBER; (G) MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE RATE OF FLOW OF SAID LIQUID TO SAID RECEIVING CHAMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LONDITUDINAL DIMENSION OF THE MATCOVERED PORTION OF SAID SLOT WHEN A MAT IS CONVEYED THEREOVER; 